Putin signed a law toughening punishment for abetment of suicide

MOSCOW, 30 Jul — RIA Novosti. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law introducing stricter criminal liability for incitement to suicide, including minors, the document published on the Kremlin website.

Inducement to commit suicide the current legislation is punishable by imprisonment for up to six years, incitement to suicide, from five to eight years.

According to the approved law, the encouragement of suicide or assisting suicide will now be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of five to 10 years.

The law imposes a greater responsibility — from eight to 15 years of imprisonment for the inducement and assistance to commit suicide, entailed death of two or more minors, or knowingly helpless or dependent of the perpetrator, or a pregnant woman.

The organization of activities aimed at encouraging them to commit suicide through the dissemination of information about methods of committing suicide, will be punished with imprisonment for a term of five to 10 years (now four years). The same act, coupled with public speaking, use of publicly performed works, the media (including Internet), shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of five to 15 years old (in existing legislation — up to six years).